How did we get started and where are we going?
– the first question is easy to answer
• in 2004 I visited a friend who had sequestered himself in a monastery
◦ while there, I met a monk whose spiritual depth and insight left a deep impression on me
◦ I continued to visit him for the next two years
• he introduced me to contemplative spirituality
◦ simply put: contemplative spirituality is real-life Christianity
– the challenge is, we have to live in reality – that’s all there is
• but many people feel they cannot live in reality
◦ so we have created unrealistic forms of religion
◦ some that are unrealistically miraculous, others are all in the head, and others that treat Jesus like an imaginary friend
• contemplative spirituality is the real experience of God
◦ a real hope that doesn’t require the world to be good or people to be nice, or miracles every day